Platini 'sorry' for high Champions League ticket prices

Michel Platini has apologised for the high cost of Champions League final tickets at Wembley, insisting Uefa will consider cheaper options in the future.

The cheapest general sale tickets for the final on 28 May cost £150 - plus a £26 administration fee - with adult-and-child packages starting from £338.

"It was a mistake, it was not good," said Uefa president Platini, while also citing problems with the black market.

"Perhaps, now, we need another category for families that is less expensive."

There was widespread condemnation when the 2011 prices were announced for European club football's biggest match at the rebuilt 86,000-capacity stadium in London, which is where the England national football team play home matches.

Yet despite his apology, Platini - who was in London on Wednesday for the handover of the Champions League trophy to mayor Boris Johnson - stressed that it was a complicated matter.

"It is not easy to decide the price of the tickets in the Champions League final," he said.

"[But] it was not a good communication and I apologise about that.

"We have received 200,000 requests for 10,000 tickets and now, if you want to buy the tickets on the black market, these tickets are 10 times the price that we decided."

Talking about a new cheaper category for families in the future the fromer French midfielder added: "But if you put those on the black market, how much will they cost?"

Tickets priced at £150 are in 'category three', while those in categories two and one rise to £225 and £300 respectively.

A number of £80 tickets will be available to each club in the final, with wheelchair entry costing £80.

The final will see either Manchester United or German side Schalke 04 play one of Spanish giants Barcelona or Real Madrid.

English Premier League leaders United won the first of their three finals in 1968 at Wembley, while Barcelona also won their first final at the venue when they beat Sampdoria in 1992.

"I'm sure the final will bring emotions in a true football city and a true stadium of football - Wembley," said Platini.

Also attending the trophy handover ceremony was the Football Association chairman, David Bernstein.

Despite being a Manchester City fan, and a former director of the club, he admitted he would like to see United make it to the final.

"We are very hopeful that Manchester United continue to progress and represent England," he added.

"Club football in this country [England] continues to be as strong as ever and five of the last six finals have involved an English side.

"There's no denying that Sir Alex Ferguson's side face a tough task against Schalke - but to have an English team in the final at Wembley would be something special."

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